POSITION DESCRIPTION:
Intern - PAID
Paid Internship Overview:
Samaritans Southcoast is an internationally accredited emotional support and suicide prevention telephone hotline offering undergraduate and graduate-level internships for students studying psychology, psychiatry, social work, mental health counseling, nursing, pre-med, and public health. Students in general study programs or other majors are also encouraged to apply.
Internship includes listening and supporting people experiencing emotional distress and intervention for those in a mental health crisis, experiencing suicidality, or having initiated suicide, and shift supervision. Interns must complete twenty (20) hours weekly for six (6) months.
Paid internships are offered twice yearly:
July 1 - December 31 (Must complete training beginning in May) - Application deadline April 1, 2023
January 1 - June 30 (Must complete training beginning in November) - Application deadline September 30, 2023
Interns participate in a mandatory, intensive 35-hour, remote training program.* Training combines virtual classroom sessions, interactive online simulations, films and videos, and observation sessions with experienced helpline specialists on the phones. Internships are designed to be both experiential and interactive. They encompass a spectrum of topics, including listening skills specific to Samaritans’ befriending techniques, depression, suicide and loss, general mental health issues, substance abuse disorder, problem callers, medical emergencies, data collection, and using technology, and policies and procedures for hotline work, among other topics of timely importance.
Duties and Responsibilities Include:
-
Answer calls on emotional support and suicide prevention hotline.
-
Provide professional and compassionate support to callers at all levels of need.
-
Embody Samaritans Southcoast’s befriending methods.
-
Perform accurate data entry to track the effectiveness and impact of hotline services.
-
Ability to listen and communicate effectively.
-
Take direction from supervisors.
-
Adhere to all Samaritans Southcoast’s policies, procedures, best practices, and those per our accreditation through the International Council for Helplines, and guidelines from the Massachusetts Suicide Prevention Coalition, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
-
Maintain composure in high-stress situations.
-
Be able to multi-task.
-
Work independently and as a team member.
Special Requirements/Physical Demands/Working Conditions:
-
Remote work with some in-person interaction with staff and colleagues locally or virtually.
-
Access to active internet service required.
-
Ability to work remotely in a secure, private space where confidentiality can be maintained.
-
Some flexibility in working hours, including some evenings and weekends.
-
Must successfully complete 35 hours of Samaritans Southcoast training.
-
Must attend refresher training and staff meetings regularly.
-
A background check is required as part of the application process.
-
CORI check is required upon offer of internship.
Relevant Position Information:
-
Job Title - Intern
-
Reports to: Training & Development Manager
-
FLSA Designation: Non-exempt
-
Job Type: Part-time, paid internship, 20 hours per week
-
Hourly wage: $18.00
-
No benefits
To apply:
To be considered, interested candidates must:
-
Complete our online application here or visit our website at https://www.samaritanssoco.org/i-am-a-student to access the PAID INTERNSHIP APPLICATION.
-
Submit a cover letter, resume, and three (3) letters of recommendation to Darcy H. Lee, Executive Director, dlee@samaritanssoco.org.
Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
Samaritans Southcoast is an equal opportunity employer. No phone calls, please.
* Pay earned during the 35-hour training period will be deferred until successful completion of internship and will be disbursed at the regular pay rate of $18 per hour in the student’s final paycheck.